How to Use Short Rows to Knit Sock Heels

Using short rows for sock heels on hand-knit socks can be a refreshing departure from the traditional turned heel. Short rows can seem confusing at first, however once you learn them they'll take no time at all. These stiches create a heel that appears very similar to a commercially made sock. Short rows can be used on any size of sock. This tutorial assumes a basic knowledge of sock-knitting and begins at the point at which you would start turning a normal heel. While most short row techniques only require slipping the wrapped stitch, the technique described here slips the next stitch as well, which smooths out the transition between wraps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yarn
• Four double pointed knitting needles or circular sock needle
• Stitch markers (optional)

1. Divide sock stitches in half, placing the heel stitches on one needle and the remaining half on two needles. It is possible to do short rows while knitting on a circular sock needle, however if you do this, it is helpful to place stitch markers on each end of the set of stitches you are using for the heel.

2. 
    

   Knit to the last heel stitch. Place yarn in back of stitch and slip stitch to right needle. Turn work, wrapping yarn around stitch. Slip wrapped stitch to right needle again, then place yarn in front of work and slip next stitch.

3. 
    

   Purl to last heel stitch once again. Place yarn in front of work, slip stitch to right needle. Turn work, wrapping yarn around stitch. Slip wrapped stitch to right needle, place yarn in back of work and slip next stitch.

4. Knit to second stitch from the end (in other words, the stitch to the right of the wrapped stitch). Repeat the process from Step 2: put yarn in back of work, slip stitch, turn, slip wrapped stitch, put yarn in front of work and slip next stitch.

5. Purl to second stitch from the end. Repeat wrapping process from Step 3: put yarn in front, slip stitch, turn work, slip wrapped stitch, put yarn in back, slip next stitch.

6. Continue in this manner, back and forth, until one third the number of total heel stitches has been wrapped on each side of heel. For example, if you started with 15 heel stitches, you would end with five wraps on each end, and five stitches in the middle without wraps.

7. 
    

   Knit to the last stitch you wrapped. Pick up wrap along with the stitch and knit both together into one stitch. Wrap the next stitch in manner described in step two. This stitch will now have two wraps.

8. Continue knitting and purling back and forth, knitting both the wraps and the stitch together when you come to the next one in line, until all wrapped stitches have been knit. The stitches with two wraps will be knit together with the stitch and both wraps. After completing the last stitch, continue knitting around the rest of the stitches which have been sitting dormant on the remaining two needles.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid unsightly holes at the edges of the heel, pick up one stitch between the heel and the remaining stitches, knit it twisted, then decrease by one stitch in each side on the next round.
• For a funky look, use a contrasting color of yarn for the heel.

Resources

• Knitpicks Yarn Store